200 homes plan to revive old Vita site

Ambitious plans to breath life into a forgotten corner of Middleton have been revealed. Town hall bosses want to transform land around the British Vita site off Oldham Road into a major new residential and recreation area.

Ambitious plans to breath life into a forgotten corner of Middleton have been revealed.

Town hall bosses want to transform land around the British Vita site off Oldham Road into a major new residential and recreation area.

Up to 200 homes could be built and the River Irk, which runs through the site, developed into a haven for wildlife and walkers.

Oldham Road would also be re-designed in a bid to reduce congestion and to provide access to the site.

Full details of the scheme are set to be revealed in March when planning chiefs begin consulting with residents about the project.

Coun Donna Martin welcomed the plans.

She said: “Anything which brings investment into the area and which improves the housing stock can only be a good thing.

“We need to carefully look at the proposals to ensure they do not have a detrimental effect on existing residents and businesses, but overall it's about time that effort and resources were focused in this area.”

British Vita, which has been based at the plant for more than 50 years, approached Rochdale council about developing vacant parts of the land.

Although the site is still operational, parts of it have been closed down, including the group's former headquarters which shut in 2005.

Coun Maureen Rowbotham said it was important that the new development didn't have a negative impact on existing residents.

She added: “Although the development is positive it's important that residents around Glenwood Drive, who will back on to the new houses, are in favour of the scheme.

“Scrowcroft Woods is in the area and needs to be protected while there is also a well-used right of access running through the site which we need to keep.”

Peter Rowlinson, head of planning and regulation at Rochdale council, added: “Middleton Regeneration Group will be briefed on the issue this week, and further public consultation is scheduled for March.

“The current package includes the retention of British Vita and other companies on the site, over two hundred new homes and an improved public open space, especially along the river.”

Oldham Road has been identified as one of the areas the council wants to develop in the next 15 years.